Mr Nash Benjamin, President of the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB)
Rabbi Abergel, Chief Rabbi of Singapore
Mr Noor Marican, President of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)
Leaders and members of the Singapore Jewish community and the IRO
1. Good evening.
2. Passover is commemorated every year to celebrate the freedom of the ancient Israelites emerging out of slavery and oppression in ancient Egypt.
3. More broadly, it is also an occasion for the community to reflect on the difficulties that it has faced in the past, and express hope for a better future.
4. Today, as we meet, there is much to reflect on. The world is going through a very difficult time.
5. There is tremendous loss of life and suffering in many conflicts around the world: Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar…many other places.
6. Wisdom is needed in each of these places.
7. Around the world, even in countries that are far away from these conflict zones, many feel emotional connections, in one way or another, to one or more of these conflicts.
8. In many societies, the impact of these external events are felt keenly, and they tend to deepen the friction between groups.
9. In the United States reported discrimination and attacks against Muslims reached a record high last year, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. And there was also more than a 300% increase in anti-semitic incidents of assault, vandalism, and harassment in just one month after October 7, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
10. This is not just in the United States. We have seen Islamophobia and anti-semitism increasing around the world. In Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa: people getting assaulted, stabbed, shot, receiving death threats, getting stopped on the streets and screamed at, spat at, property being vandalised.
11. In Singapore, we tried hard not to import these tensions, conflicts and arguments, into our own society.
12. We are a multicultural, diverse place in terms of religions, ancestries, ethnicities and backgrounds.
13. And we have felt, in Singapore, some impact, with the ongoing war in Gaza.
14. But thankfully, the level of tension and friction is much less, compared with most other places. Because of the framework of laws that we have; our firmness in making clear that we will be fair, and enforce our laws equally; and also the efforts that we have made through the years, and continue to make, to increase the understanding between communities.
15. We have made a clear commitment to protect all our minorities which, in Singapore’s context, includes Muslim and Jewish communities, and we take a firm view against any expression of violence, and obviously any actual violence.
16. And people know we mean what we say, and I personally made that clear, recently.
17. So, in Singapore, the situation has so far looked quite different from many other places around the world. And in that context, if you look at what is happening in the Middle East, it is sad on many levels.
18. The BBC ran a commentary a few days ago, which talked about the clear, convincing information that the hostages had been subjected to sexual violence “including rape, sexualised torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” and that he violence against the hostages was continuing. This was on 7 April.
19. The reporter went to Israel, and could not go into Gaza, but BBC says that evidence is accumulating that both Hamas and Israel have committed war crimes. At The Hague, Israel rejects the charge that it is guilty of genocide.
20. “For many of its citizens and supporters it is grotesque and offensive to allege that the state which was created after Nazi Germany murdered six million Jews in the Holocaust is itself committing Genocide.” “Palestinians see the charges through a different lens, shaped by years of military occupation by Israel. Many Palestinians believe Israel has already created an apartheid state that denies them most basic rights.”
21. The key point that comes through to me, regardless of which part of this you consider right or wrong, is that both sides have dehumanised each other. The Palestinians are not seen as partners of peace. They are not seen as people who deserve equality because what they have done on 7 October. So they, meaning the Israelis, question their humanity.
22. We see similar developments unfortunately also among Palestinians, who see what is happening in Gaza. And they say that “those who are targeting women and children, deliberately killing entire families, demolishing entire neighbourhoods cannot be humans as well. So they see them as monsters. This dehumanisation is absolutely disastrous for the future.”
23. On both sides, there is dehumanisation, and that can only be bad news for peace or any hope, regardless of who is right or wrong.
24. In the 60s and 70s, several of you would remember, Israel was seen as the underdog, attacked by larger forces around the region, struggling for its survival and existence. There was a lot of natural sympathy from around the world, from non-Jews.
25. In the last 20-30 years, this sympathy has eroded somewhat, arising from the policies of different Israeli Governments towards the Palestinians.
26. I do not want to dwell too much on this. Our position has been made very clear, in our statements, and at the United Nations.
27. Our relationship with Israel, since the days of our founding, has been very strong. But that will not preclude us from taking a principled view on the actions of the different actors in the Middle East, at any point in time.
28. And recent actions by Israel have been a cause for concern, as I said, not just to us, but to many in the international community, including the United States.
29. It is sad to see that a country like Israel, whose people have suffered so much
during the Holocaust and centuries before that, should be accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
30. These will have an impact on the perception of Jewish communities around the world.
31. What is our task? I am very clear – we want to insulate, protect our Jewish community from these impacts, as much as we can.
32. Our fundamental aim, Government’s fundamental duty is to maintain law and order, protect everyone. That is the first order of business for the government.
33. And that is why we took a strong stance against the recent post by the Israeli Embassy. It risked inflaming tensions, can undermine the peace and harmony we enjoy in Singapore, and can also put the Jewish community here at risk – if the anger spills over into the physical realm. We have made it very clear.
34. We are in Singapore, one of few places where Jews can openly profess their faith in this region. There are mosques, synagogue, church and temple within a short distance of each other. We have to ensure people feel completely free and confident and comfortable to practise their faith and do what they wish, as long as you do not go out there to protest without a permit.
35. Jews have a very long history in Singapore and are a vibrant and valuable part of our society. The community has played a vital role in building Singapore up through the years, and it continues strongly today.
36. Personally, as some of you know two of my own legal mentors whom I am most indebted to, were Jews – the late Mr Joseph Grimberg and the late Mr Harry Elias. I spoke at both remembrance ceremonies.
37. Today, as we look towards Passover, we look towards and pray for a better future, for both Israelis and Palestinians. For an end to the endless cycles of violence, oppression, and suffering, and for wisdom to prevail. There is a reason why a cabinet minister is here, speaking with you – to send a message to everyone that every community in Singapore is equal and will be protected.
38. Thank you, and wishing you all a blessed and happy Passover in advance.
